It all started with a used car Well, not just any used car, but a particular used car that the Johnson's were looking for. When they found it, they got more than they realized-and just what God intended.

A little more than a year ago, Al and Corinne Johnson went looking for a good used car and found one at a dealer, fifty miles from Billings in Columbus, Montana. When the Johnsons got the car home, they discovered that it had previously been owned and traded in to that dealer by the Anderson family. After further research, it turned out that the Andersons lived only a few blocks from the Johnsons. They got in touch to talk about the history of the car and discovered that there were some floor mats that did not make the trip to the dealership when the car was traded in.

Now, it happened that the Johnsons were on their way home from Bible study and stopped by to pick up the floor mats. While they visited, they told the Andersons about the Bible study and that led to a conversation about our congregation, Yellowstone Lutheran Brethren Church. The Andersons expressed their desire for a family-oriented church where they could fit in. The Johnsons invited them to visit our congregation to see if it fit their needs.

The next week, the Andersons came to church with the Johnsons. In time, after they got to know the congregation and began to plug in, the Andersons mentioned the church to their neighbors, the O'Donnells and the Taylors. It didn't take long for both these families to come to Yellowstone and get involved. They too have begun to invite their families and friends to come to church. Then, Rick and Rebecca Anderson shared their enthusiasm about their new church home with their family, particularly Rick's parents and his sister's family. In a few weeks both of these families, the Andersons and the Kings, began to attend and get involved.

As a pastor I am always encouraging people to invite their friends and families to church. But I have to confess, I didn't think someone would actually do it! But they did!

As a result of a used car and a little something we call the Holy Spirit's work, twenty-one people have begun to attend our congregation.

I wonder who would come to your congregation if you would just ask them. If you need a conversation starter, maybe you could offer to buy their car.

Pastor Matt Lundgren serves Yellowstone LBC in Billings, Montana